Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2012 10:27:34 GMT -6
It had been quite awhile since I had fished Lockport, so I made amends by heading out early this morning - even though the bite was reputed to be off.
I arrived at about 5:45 and noticed that I was fishing on a "low tide" - wind was south and the water was down, adding to current speeds in the riffle areas. Water levels were about what I had encountered in late May/early June, which is a product of continuing high flows down the Assiniboine I guess.
Nothing was showing, other than the odd carp but I found fish in certain pockets and 'lips". By 9:30 I had three fair-hooked cats, and about the same number of foul-hook-ups. One of them looked post-spawn, being pretty thin and beat up. I also caught two small drum. Along the shore, folks were catching goldeye, sauger and drum.
It started to rain pretty hard by 8:30 and I was off the water not long after. One of the things I found interesting was to see how fast the "tide" can roll back in. The wind had shifted to a light northerly and the water rose about 4- 6" in less than two hours, which dropped the current speeds markedly in the riffle areas. The fishing also dropped off, but that may have been coincidence.
I don't think I have ever "caught" as much line as I did this morning! Maybe that's a sign that there haven't been very many ffers out there! One sad site was a very lively pelican caught by its leg on a long, anchored line. It hung in the current and I managed to wade close enough to cut the line, but it was left with a good 10yds hanging off its leg. Can't see that that playing out well for the bird.
The wading is manageable, but the water is up and you have to be watchful. A PFD is recommended. I started using cleated boots this year and I am much more confident of the grip they provide. Wouldn't go back to straight felt now.....TIM
I arrived at about 5:45 and noticed that I was fishing on a "low tide" - wind was south and the water was down, adding to current speeds in the riffle areas. Water levels were about what I had encountered in late May/early June, which is a product of continuing high flows down the Assiniboine I guess.
Nothing was showing, other than the odd carp but I found fish in certain pockets and 'lips". By 9:30 I had three fair-hooked cats, and about the same number of foul-hook-ups. One of them looked post-spawn, being pretty thin and beat up. I also caught two small drum. Along the shore, folks were catching goldeye, sauger and drum.
It started to rain pretty hard by 8:30 and I was off the water not long after. One of the things I found interesting was to see how fast the "tide" can roll back in. The wind had shifted to a light northerly and the water rose about 4- 6" in less than two hours, which dropped the current speeds markedly in the riffle areas. The fishing also dropped off, but that may have been coincidence.
I don't think I have ever "caught" as much line as I did this morning! Maybe that's a sign that there haven't been very many ffers out there! One sad site was a very lively pelican caught by its leg on a long, anchored line. It hung in the current and I managed to wade close enough to cut the line, but it was left with a good 10yds hanging off its leg. Can't see that that playing out well for the bird.
The wading is manageable, but the water is up and you have to be watchful. A PFD is recommended. I started using cleated boots this year and I am much more confident of the grip they provide. Wouldn't go back to straight felt now.....TIM